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Whether you’ve been playing the well-known card game for ages or thought a munchkin referred to a tiny round doughnut, Munchkin #1 has something for every level of fan. Personally Munchkin is one of those games I’ve always wanted to get into but never had the opportunity. I’ve played the demo online but never played the full version with anyone. Having said that, I still very much enjoyed the first issue of what I hope to be a long-running series. Munchkin #1 offers great artwork, good humor, and plenty of fun surprises. So dive into adventure as you travel through dungeons, face monsters, and follow the antics of our heroes in Munchkin #1

I am a huge horror nerd. I love scary movies with spooky soundtracks, Halloween is my favorite holiday, and October makes me the happiest because it means my friends and I get to visit all the worthy haunted attractions in the Los Angeles area. We’ve done the typical LA staples like Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, Knott’s Scary Farm, the Haunted Hayride, etc. They’re fun and charming in their own way, but Delusion surpasses them all easily!

Appropriately named, Jon Braver is the genius behind this live, interactive, chill inducing “Haunted Play” that not only relies on some incredible production value, but includes some of the best live actors I’ve ever seen. The best part of this attraction is that the story changes every single year, and this latest one, about author Elena Fitzgerald’s literary (and not so friendly) character creations coming to life, is my favorite yet. I loved it so much I went twice this year! And, to be honest, my favorite part is seeing my friends who never get scared, actually freak out. No fake chainsaws needed here!

The location has also changed each year, so none of us lucky (or unlucky?) visitors have any idea what to expect, and, this year, they secured an enormous, super creepy old house in the historic West Adams district. It was truly remarkable to see how each room in the house was staged in detail to really help the audience feel like they’re part of the story and to up the psychological thriller factor to the holy sh** degree.

There’s not a single negative thing I can say about Delusion. The actors are insanely talented, the atmosphere and special effects are jaw dropping, the musical score is spine tingling, and even the welcoming and social media staff are lovely. Fans are called Delusioners, so I’m gonna go ahead and call myself a Delusionerd. I’ve been one since my first, amazing Haunted Play experience, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next year.

Rightfully so, this event sells out immediately, but, lucky for you, they release new dates every so often so make sure to sign up for their official website newsletter, follow them on Twitter, or like them on Facebook.

Welcome to Ask The Nerds. Have a burning question? Go ahead and email us and we will do our best to answer it for you! We always keep our questions anonymous so you have no worries!

Hi nerds,

I have noticed a lot of in-fighting in the nerdy girl world lately and it really bothers me. One of my friends recently turned on me to hang out with the “cooler” kids here in LA and it really hurts! Is there anything I can do to get my friend back or is she gone to the darkside for good?

Beloved Abandoned Nerd Friend,

Fighting is only cool if it involves otherworldly weapons and accompanying background music. Since most fights don’t involve these things, the reality is that fighting is the absolute worst. This is especially true when it involves one of the rare people we call a friend. Your pain over being abandoned by this friend is completely warranted, and I’m giving you the biggest cyber-hug right now because no one should ever be traded in like that. I can’t guarantee that there is anything that you can do to get your friend back other than be your usual awesome, nerdy self and hope that she realizes that the “cool” kids really aren’t that cool (because they seldom are), and comes running back desperate for some sort of nerd movie marathon or gaming session. This is completely possible. When I was in this situation, all that came of it for me was I watched the girl who I had memorized Harry Potter spells with turn into someone I didn’t like at all. However, I realized something important when this happened: she was not a good friend.

I can’t predict whether your friend will or will not come back, but I would like you to consider a couple of things.

1) Do you really want a friend who would abandon you for other people like this? It is completely possible to hang out with more than one group of people. If she was a good friend, the kind you want in your life, she would never have dropped you at the prospect of being with other people. She would have kept you in her life and been friends with them AND you. The fact that she dropped you for these kids is an insult to you, and no one deserves to be insulted like that.

2) Do you realize how great of a friend you are, and don’t you want a friend who will reciprocate that back to you? Seriously, look at you right now. This friend went off and left you for another group of friends, and all you are concerned about is having her back by your side. You’re not being angry or venomous about it. You just want your friend back, and that says a lot about how much you care for her. You obviously care about this girl a ton, and guess what? You deserve a friend who cares about you, too!

3) Friendship isn’t just about finding someone you hate less than other people or share a few interests with. Friendship is a mutual relationship between two people who enjoy each other’s company and care about one another. Friendship is a team. It’s a partnership. You want someone who will stand by your side and fight, not someone who is going to switch sides on the battlefield because the other guys have better costumes! Can you imagine if in the middle of everything Tony Stark just stopped and said, “But, look at Loki! He’s FABULOUS!” and switched sides?! The Marvel universe would IMPLODE.

So, maybe she will come back. Maybe she won’t. To me, it sounds like you lost someone who was always going to get lost eventually, and I cannot stress the fact that you deserve better than that enough. There are plenty of other nerd girls out there, and I’m sure there are some who will treat you better and never make you question if another group of people is more worthy of attention than you are. Find those girls, befriend those girls, eat nachos with those girls, and get yo nerd on with those girls, okay?

Ps. You’re wonderful, and your “friend’s” poor decisions are not at all a reflection of you or your self-worth. You’ve got it together, and she’s still searching for herself. That’s all this means. Keep being awesome. Greater things will come your way.

Friends don’t always agree on everything or have the same goals. That’s OK, as long as you’re still there for each other equally and have compatible priorities. If that’s not the case and one person is giving a lot more than the other to preserve the friendship, then it’s not ok. Unfortunately, people tend to value different things, and that’s why friends grow apart. But this may actually be positive since you don’t need someone in your life who values superficial connections more than real significant relationships. It’s always hard when things end, and it’s certainly normal to want to try and get your friend back with some inspired act of awesomeness, but you’re only going to end up hurt and resentful, and, most likely, wasting your time.

As you get older, you’ll realize that you only have a certain amount of time and energy to put into relationships, so you’ll want to make sure you’re only putting significant effort into people who make you happy, not the ones who bring you down. People grow apart. It’s part of life. At some point, your friend might catch up with you and you’ll both be on the same page. But if that doesn’t happen, it’s ok too. You will have other friends who won’t put a Hollywood douchebag first, because they know what truly matters.

And the same thing goes for nerd girl on nerd girl fighting. Remember to always be direct and sincere. Don’t believe all of the gossip. Be objective. When someone is talking shit, and you don’t agree with them, say it. Stand up for your friends, but don’t get caught up in high school like drama; that needs to stay between other people (i.e., people who are not you). However, if somehow it does manage to include you, don’t talk shit, confront the person directly, and make sure you politely tell them you don’t want any trouble and you’re available if they ever want to chat. There’s already so much real drama going on in this world that we need to stop attacking each other over petty matters. Actual cool kids aren’t dicks. They’re inclusive, giving, loyal, and treat other nerds how they want to be treated.

First off, I’m going to assume you read the first part in this series, and therefor already know that the big surprise I alluded to in my last review was that Toph’s father was head of the Earthen Fire Refinery. The second part in this series continues exactly where we left off, with Toph coming face to face with her father.

Most of the second volume deals more with Aang and Toph’s continuing fight about celebrating the past versus living in the present. Aang tries to continue his celebration of Yangchen’s Festival and runs into a familiar character from the series who really loves his cabbages…

Other things to look forward to in this adventure are Toph’s showdown with her dad who has pretty much disowned her and Sokka and Katara discovering a secret passage (and some very important findings within). I don’t want to spoil everything for you, so I’m going to make you read for more details. You have to wait a total of zero days though because the book was out in stores as of July 2nd! Without giving anything away I will tell you that there are some great fight scenes as well as the same great artwork I raved about from the first book. Also, Toph confronting her father is a rather powerful moment for those who know their past history from the tv show. There’s also a great Avatar history lesson and of course a big twist at the end that will leave you begging for more. You’ll have to wait until part 3 comes out in November, but I believe everything is supposed to wrap-up in that issue. Personally I can’t wait to see how it all ends, but in the meantime at least we have new episodes of Korra to get our avatar fix on, right?

Warning: I’m going to assume if you’re reading this you already read the first issue of Sage Escape, which I reviewed here. If I’m wrong, you might get some spoilers. There are very few details about issue 2 in here that I would consider spoilers, but if you don’t like to know even minor details then maybe wait until you read the issue before continuing. Thanks, and happy reading, nerds!

When last we left our heroine, she had a run-in with a bounty hunter whom she was trying to convince of a massive cover-up involving the massacre of her home world. We pick up where we left off, with their ship landing on Sage’s home world. There are plenty of dangers here, in the form of level 6 “salesmen assassins”. These assassins’ special features include a hive mind, which means that if one of them identifies you the rest immediately know your location. This becomes a problem when just after finding survivors of the massacre, they are spotted. Not going to spoil how things turn out but let’s just say there is plenty of action (as well as a surprise visit from a mysterious time-traveler with the best possible timing). There’s also another story involving some cool looking aliens on Mars to break up the Sage storyline. The issue ends with Sage and her group getting out of one bad situation and into another. You’ll have to wait for the third and final installment on May 6th to find out the thrilling conclusion of Sage Escape.

Did this intrigue you? Then go to the website and download issue #2 now!

Editor Scott Allie and his crew have created a grand tribute volume that will delight fans. Within this 137 page handiwork we encounter the superb art of the man that has been inventively drawing Hellboy for 20 years, Mike Mignola. This opus invites the fan to view the interiors of Hellboy evolution.

Among the exceptional pages are covers like Hellboy: Wake the Devil #2, The Goon #7 and Witchfinder: Lost and Gone Forever #4. Mignola’s genius is displayed as we view sketches for an unfinished Hellboy painting and then the unfinished watercolor painting. We are given an equal appreciation for the coloring of Dave Stewart, as we view his work, especially with the inclusion of the Trickster Print, and Hellboy in Hell front covers.

This is a welcome addition to the Hellboy body of work, but it is not a sequel to Art of Hellboy (released back in 2003). It is a tender tribute to the integral, unique work Mike Mignola has created over these 20 years. Lighting struck the pencil, when Mignola created a downward shoulder, trench coat wearing colossus that we adore as he roughs his way through his world of monsters with humor and one massive fist.

This collection reminds us how fresh originality, can evolve and continue to inspire while entertaining the reader. Can’t wait to see what Mike Mignola has in store for the next 20 years. Hellboy The First Twenty Years is a must have for every shelf. Happy 20th Hellboy!

Being fanatic about real-life gangsters is a touchy subject. Following the lives of say, Al Capone, Griselda Blanco or Carlo Gambino is an interesting read, for sure. Until your stomach starts to twist a bit. Luckily, there’s been a whole host of fictional mobsters to captivate our imaginations and deep-seated need to be bad to the bone. These are personal favorites and there’s a noticeable lack of anyone named Corleone or Soprano listed on here (though, to be fair, I considered Tom Hagan and Sylvio Dante)…

Mega-sized supervillain Wilson Fisk, otherwise known as the Kingpin, is a badass among badasses within the Marvel universe. Stan Lee’s creation came to life in 1967 and has since gone up against Spiderman, Daredevil and the Punisher, among others. The Kingpin doesn’t possess superhuman powers. It’s simply his brute strength and tactical mind that contribute to his masterful Machiavellian scheming. Even as an enemy to the reigning Maggia and terrorist group HYDRA, the crushing fists of the Kingpin are nothing to scoff at. His ‘look’ has been reappropriated by Hollywood at large: we now expect all gangsters to be fat, bald and toting a cigar.

Martin Scorsese clearly loves gangster culture more than I ever will. He’s crafted a life out of shining light on the decadent underworld of every era. In Mean Streets, a fresh-faced Robert Deniro plays Johnny Boy, a reckless, goofy hothead with a rather visceral swagger for a small-time thug. He practically charms his way off the screen as the strutting, obnoxious sidekick to Harvey Keitel’s straight man. At the risk of sounding superficial, my favorite thing about the character is the way he looks. Between the jaunty hats, plaid suit coats, scruffy locks and one of the biggest guilty grins to grace the silver screen, I’d be in love…if I didn’t want to punch him in the face.

Motor-mouthed, limping Kevin Spacey wins for simply being renowned as a semi-fictional gangster, inside a work of fiction. In 1997’s The Usual Suspects, tales swirl about international heavy, Keyser Soze, throughout the course of the unfolding plot. It’s hard for me to think back to fifteen years ago, when I didn’t know the ending to this movie, but I’m pretty sure it caught me off guard. Surprise plot twists aside, Keyser Soze is the kind of omnipotent, grudge-holding villain that makes for cinema gold. He shows true gangsters are all about the long game. Though, if he weren’t simply a small-time crook, this paragraph would definitely be about Benicio del Toro’s character instead.

Jabba the Hutt is totally gangster. Star Wars’ space-slug hoodlum is ‘our kind of scum’. Plus, his hard-partying palace is my kind of joint. I read somewhere that it took six separate operators to portray the worm-like warlord at any given time. Rumored to have been based on Orson Welles in his obese later years, this intergalactic thug is surrounded by packs of interesting groupies, followers and slaves. Salacious Crumb is no Paulie Walnuts, but hey, you take ‘em where you can.

The soft-spoken Los Pollos Hermanos kingpin put a new spin on gangster gravitas. Gustavo Fring ran a tight ship. Very few actors can walk the line between polite and threatening – Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito drew that line and silently tap-danced on it. His calm demeanor was enchanting and his cool, aloof manner most unnerving. Though he dies at the hands of protagonist Walter White, his character was the true professional of the whole bunch, displaying zero ego and maintaining perfect posture.

Lydia Mondy is a freelance writer with absolutely zero ‘gangster’ qualities. Unless you count her penchant for pinstripes and bourbon. You can find her blogging about everything from her Jem obsession to the big business behind all things ‘geeky

Seattle, WA – Beautiful and multi-talented actress Danai Gurira (“Michonne” from The Walking Dead) is the twelfth special celebrity guest announced for the upcoming Emerald City Comicon taking place on March 1st – 3rd, 2013 at the Washington State Convention Center. She will be appearing all three days!

Danai Gurira is best known as the mysterious and deadly “Michonne” on AMC’s The Walking Dead, who has quickly become a viewer favorite during the show’s third season. Her character is a force to be reckoned with, not only sporting a dangerous katana but also also having two zombies, whom she has removed the jaws from, shackled in tow with her.

Other television credits include Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Lie to Me, HBO’s Treme and the US version of the hit series Life On Mars.

Gurira was critically praised for her co-starring role as “Zainab” in the 2007 Oscar-nominated film The Visitor, about a lonely middle-aged man forced to deal with the issues of immigration and cross-culture communication in post-9/11 New York City. The film nabbed her the award for Best Supporting Actress from the Method Fest Film Festival.

Gurira’s also appeared as “Jeanne-Baptiste” Wes Craven’s horror flick My Soul to Take, the Ricky Gervais comedy Ghost Town and in the independent film Restless City.

Gurira is also an accomplished playwright, having received multiple honors, including an Obie and the Helen Hayes Award, for her play In the Continuum, which dealt with two black women living with HIV. Other plays she penned include the Sierra Leone and Liberia civil war drama Eclipsed and the 19th Century period piece The Convert, about a woman who turns to Catholicism to escape an arranged marriage. She made her Broadway debut in the August Wilson play Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.

With record-breaking attendance of over 53,000 attendees in 2012, Emerald City Comicon has established itself as one of North America’s largest and most respected shows of its kind anywhere in the world and has become the premier event of its kind in the Northwest. Founded in 2003 by Seattle-area entrepreneur and Geekwire’s “Geek of the Year” Award winner Jim Demonakos, ECCC has become highly regarded in both national and international circles as one of the most fan and family-friendly shows in existence.

Look for regular press releases containing all of the latest news leading up to the show in March 2013. For more information, please visit ECCC’s website at www.emeraldcitycomicon.com

Once Upon A Time is fun to watch, if you’re a fan of Lost. It has beautiful production values, Robert Carlyle, and great guest stars. The only problem is that, like Lost, it’s a narrative mess. The split between Storybrooke and the Fairy Tale Land is less like watching parallel stories that inform and drive each other, and more like watching a set of back-to-back Fun House mirrors. Roughly the same plot playing out in both the, “Real,” and Fairy Tale worlds, leaving the audience interested but stuck. While Lost had the advantage of being completely unknown and using the flashback format to inform a motley group of characters, Once Upon A Time is already dealing in mostly known characters and it’s simply become repetitive.

Snow White and the Dwarfs ( Still courtesy of abc.go.com)

True North and 7:15 A. M., are entertaining hours of television that don’t bring any depth to the show’s narrative as a whole. We already know that Emma Swan ( Jennifer Morrison) grew up an orphan in the foster system. We already know that Mary-Margaret and David (Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas) are replaying the Snow White/Prince (James) Charming narrative. We know these things.

Losing a parent, or losing a child is painful: we get it. There are bad parents and parents who do their best but fail anyway: we get it.

In its last two outings, Once Upon A Time has cemented the fact that it does an amazing job of making fairy tales fresh and it has no idea of how to make the lives of Storybrooke’s residents more than a cheap soap opera.

Hansel and Gretel ( Quinn Lord and Harley Scott Collins) and the Evil Queen’s machinations to exploit their separation from their Woodsman (Nicholas Lea) father to steal from the Blind Witch ( Emma Caulfield) is far more interesting than the Storybrooke side of True North, which is simply Emma Swann replaying her inner child’s issues and trying to protect the children.

The Blind Witch (Emma Caulfield still courtesy of abc.go.com)

Showing the audience a warped version of how Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs came about, through a deal with Rumplestiltskin, the Prince’s venal father (Alan Dale) and true love’s sacrifice, has more depth and meaning than the triangle of Mary-Margaret/David/Kathryn, and 7:15 A.M. suffers from the contrast.

Red Riding Hood and Snow White (still courtesy of abc.go.com)

Once Upon A Time has the potential to be great genre television, and great television full stop, but until the Storybrooke narrative is as strong as the fairy tale, it continues to fall flat. The addition of a meta-fictional element in the form of The Stranger (Eion Bailey) as a writer in a town where a book holds the key to reality, could prove interesting if the show’s writers don’t leave the obvious trail of breadcrumbs we’re expecting.

JANUARY 23, MILWAUKIE, OR­—When Steve Niles (Criminal Macabre, 30 Days of Night) premiered artwork from his upcoming collaboration with artist Menton3 (Monocyte, Proof: Endangered,Crawl to Me) via his Twitter feed, speculation and anticipation spread like wildfire across the Internet. Today, Dark Horse is proud to announce that this new vampiric tale will premiere in Dark Horse Presents!

The Black Plague was a time of death and misery . . . except for the undead. For vampires, the Black Death was a welcome relief from being hunted and a time of incredible growth for the undead. On the night of their wedding, two vampire lovers are torn apart and separated for five hundred years, setting off a sequence of events that will bring the modern world to its knees!

“I haven’t been this excited about working on something in a long time. Menton3 is the perfect artist and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be doing this at Dark Horse,” Niles said. “This year I’m making a big push to become 100 percent creator owned. Nosferatu Wars will be a big part of that, I hope.”

Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith redefined the vampire genre with the groundbreaking comic series 30 Days of Night in 2002. Ten years later, Niles is poised to make history again, as he and Menton3 blow the sparkle off of the undead in Nosferatu Wars, premiering in Dark Horse Presents later this year!